Netherlands

Netherlands

Introduction

Background

The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579

during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands – Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba – became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Geography

Location

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 41,543 sq km
country comparison to the world: 135 land:33,893 sq km
water:7,650 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 1,027 km
border countries:Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline

451 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm

Climate

temperate

marine

cool summers and mild winters

Terrain

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders)

some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point:Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)
note:the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Land use

arable land: 21.96%
permanent crops:0.77%
other:77.27% (2005)

Irrigated land

4,600 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

89.7 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 8.86cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita:544cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards

flooding

Environment – current issues

water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates

air pollution from vehicles and refining activities

acid rain

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective:Dutch

Ethnic groups

Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Religions

Roman Catholic 30%, Protestant 20% (Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%), Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)

Population

16,847,007 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 1,466,218/female 1,398,463)
15-64 years:67.4% (male 5,732,042/female 5,624,408)
65 years and over:15.6% (male 1,141,507/female 1,484,369) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 41.1 years
male:40.3 years
female:41.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.371% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Birth rate

10.23 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Death rate

8.85 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Net migration rate

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Urbanization

urban population: 83% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

AMSTERDAM (capital) 1.044 million

Rotterdam 1.008 million

The Hague (seat of government) 629,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.76 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 147

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 191 male:5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.68 years
country comparison to the world: 35 male:77.06 years
female:82.44 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Health expenditures

10.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 23

Physicians density

3.921 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 14

Hospital bed density

4.25 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 46

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 50

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years
male:17 years
female:17 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 6.6%
country comparison to the world: 119 male:7.1%
female:6.2% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form:Netherlands
local long form:Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form:Nederland

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates:52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March

ends last Sunday in October
note:The Hague is the seat of government

time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, not to the Caribbean components

Administrative divisions

12 provinces (provincies, singular – provincie)

Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Dependent areas

Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten

Independence

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain

on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration

however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

National holiday

Queen’s Day (Birthday of deceased Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

Constitution

adopted 1815

amended many times, most recently in 2002

Legal system

civil law system based on the French system

constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980)

Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government:Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010)

Deputy Prime Minister Maxime VERHAGEN (since 14 October 2010)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary

following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note:there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch

bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats

members indirectly elected by the country’s 12 provincial councils to serve four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:First Chamber – last held on May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015)

Second Chamber – last held on 9 June 2010 (next to be held by May 2015)
election results:First Chamber – percent of vote by party – NA%

seats by party – VVD 16, PvdA 14, CDA 11, PVV 10, SP 8, D66 5, GL 5, other 6

Second Chamber – percent of vote by party – VVD 20.5%, PvdA 19.6%, PVV, 15.4%, CDA 13.6%, SP 9.8%, D66 6.9%, GL 6.7%, CU 3.2, other 4.3%

seats by party – VVD 31, PvdA 30, PVV 24, CDA 21, SP 15, D66 10, GL 10, CU 5, other 4

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime VERHAGEN]

Christian Union or CU [Andre ROUVOET]

Democrats 66 or D66 [Alexander PECHTOLD]

Green Left or GL [Henk NIJHOF]

Labor Party or PvdA [Job COHEN]

Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]

Party for the Animals or PvdD [Marianne THIEME]

People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD [Mark RUTTE] (Liberal)

Reformed Political Party of SGP [Kees VAN DER STAAIJ]

Socialist Party of SP [Emile ROEMER]

plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Christian Trade Union Federation or CNV [Jaap SMIT]

Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers or VNO-NCW [Bernard WIENTJES]

Federation for Small and Medium-sized businesses or MKB [Loek HERMANS]

Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV [Agnes JONGERIUS]

Social Economic Council or SER [Alexander RINNOOY KAN]

Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel or MHP [Richard STEENBORG]

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Regina “Renee” JONES-BOS
chancery:4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 244-5300, [1] 877-388-2443
FAX:[1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s):Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Fay HARTOG LEVIN
embassy:Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address:PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone:[31] (70) 310-2209
FAX:[31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:Amsterdam

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue

similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century

originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color

the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

National symbol(s)

lion

National anthem

name: “Het Wilhelmus” (The William)
lyrics/music:Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
note:adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century, making it the oldest national anthem in the world

also known as “Wilhelmus van Nassouwe” (William of Nassau), it is in the form of an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza spells the name of the leader of the Dutch Revolt

Economy

Economy – overview

The Netherlands economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country has been one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the four largest investors in the US. After 26 years of uninterrupted economic growth, the Netherlands’ economy – which is highly open and dependent on foreign trade and financial services – was hard-hit by global economic crisis. Dutch GDP contracted 3.9% in 2009, while exports declined nearly 25% due to a sharp contraction in world demand. The Dutch financial sector has also suffered, due in part to the high exposure of some Dutch banks to U.S. mortgage-backed securities. In response to turmoil in financial markets, the government nationalized two banks and injected billions of dollars into a third, to prevent further systemic risk. The government also sought to boost the domestic economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credit facilities. The stimulus programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of nearly 4.6% of GDP in 2009 and 5.3% in 2010 that contrasts sharply with a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2008. With unemployment weighing on private-sector consumption, the government of Prime Minister Mark RUTTE is likely to come under increased pressure to keep the budget deficit in check while promoting economic recovery.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$676.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 $665.3 billion (2009 est.)
$692.4 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$783.3 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156 -3.9% (2009 est.)
1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$40,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 $39,800 (2009 est.)
$41,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.8%
industry:24.4%
services:72.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force

7.816 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2%
industry:18%
services:80% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 4.8% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

10.5% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%:22.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

30.9 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 113 32.6 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Budget

revenues: $358.5 billion
expenditures:$400 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

45.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Public debt

62.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 60.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 1.2% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 127 1.75% (31 December 2009)
note:this is the European Central Bank’s rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.013% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176 3.367% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$375.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 $361.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$1.088 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15 $1.165 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.083 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $1.824 trillion (31 December 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$661.2 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 19 $542.5 billion (31 December 2009)
$387.9 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables

livestock

Industries

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Electricity – production

105.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity – consumption

112.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity – exports

10.56 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

4.888 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

59,490 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Oil – consumption

1.009 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Oil – exports

1.871 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Oil – imports

2.577 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8

Oil – proved reserves

310 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas – production

85.17 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas – consumption

53.19 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas – exports

57.75 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Natural gas – imports

25.77 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.387 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Current account balance

$60.09 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 $38.74 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$486.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7 $424.4 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels

foodstuffs

Exports – partners

Germany 26%, Belgium 13%, France 9.2%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.9% (2010)

Imports

$429.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10 $373.4 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports – partners

Germany 15.5%, China 12.6%, Belgium 8.3%, US 6.8%, UK 6.2%, Russia 5.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$46.24 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35 $39.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$NA (30 June 2011)
$3.733 trillion (31 December 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$587.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $659.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$954.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $949.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.755 (2010)
0.7198 (2009)
0.6827 (2008)
0.7345 (2007)
0.7964 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

27 (2010)
country comparison to the world:121

Airports – with paved runways

total: 20
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:9
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:5
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 4,413 km

oil 365 km

refined products 716 km (2010)

Railways

total: 2,896 km
country comparison to the world: 58 standard gauge:2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,195 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 136,827 km (includes 2,631 km of expressways) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 35

Waterways

6,214 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 22

Merchant marine

total: 706
country comparison to the world: 15 by type:bulk carrier 1, cargo 464, carrier 21, chemical tanker 57, container 73, liquefied gas 19, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 21, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned:217 (Australia 1, Denmark 36, Finland 14, France 2, Germany 92, Ireland 7, Italy 9, Japan 1, Norway 18, Sweden 18, UAE 4, US 15)
registered in other countries:240 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Australia 1, Bahamas 22, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 24, Gibraltar 33, Liberia 35, Luxembourg 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 16, former Netherlands Antilles 52, Panama 8, Paraguay 1, Philippines 18, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

Military

Military branches

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2010)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,911,098
females age 16-49:3,817,031 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,201,328
females age 16-49:3,122,889 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 103,462
female:98,383 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none

Illicit drugs

major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator

important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe

major source of US-bound ecstasy

large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering

significant consumer of ecstasy